Electric current control device



Dec. 10, 1935.

R. J. PERALTA 2,024,050 v ELECTRIC CURRENT CONTROL DEVICE Filed April 23, 1934 TI 16 I J1 "16 5 T J F ll I 4 l 26 29 1 i INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Roberto J. Peralta, Panuco, Mexico Application April 23, In Mexico 3 Claims.

The invention relates to an electric current control device and more especially to a circuit breaker and closer.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the passage of a predetermined amount of electric current therethrough is permitted by the breaking of the circuit when an overload of the current occurs, the said device being readily operative for the automatic closing of the circuit when the overload ceases.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the same is susceptible of substitution for a fuse and will operate to control the current in an electric circuit, as the same will operate to permit only the passage of a predetermined amount of electric current and the opening or breaking of the circuit when an overload occurs, the device being novel in form.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and efiicient in its purpose, durable, readily and easily engaged in a fuse socket arranged in an electric circuit, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a device constructed in accordance with the invention, the device being shown by full lines in circuit closing position and by dotted lines'in opening position.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly in section showing a slight modification of the device.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a further modification of the device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figure 1, the device comprises a two-part shell A including a hollow body in and a lid or cover I l, the latter being telescoped over the outer open end of said body It! and seated against an external annular shoulder l2 on said body In. The opposite closed end of the body I0 is reduced to form a central externally threaded hollow plug 13 for 1934, Serial No. 722,041 May 23, 1933 detachable engagement in a fuse socket arranged within an electric circuit, the socket and circuit being not shown.

Within the body In is an insulating lining H, while in the outer open end of said body is ar- 5 ranged a flexible diaphragm l5, the latter being normally in concavo-convex position within the body, and this diaphragm is held secure to the body in any suitable manner. Connected centrally with the diaphragm is a stem I6, the same being extended outwardly through a suitable clearance in the cover I I and carrying at its outer end a contact button I! which functions as an opening and closing switch, the same being normally engaged with the cover II, the stem l6 being insulated from the diaphragm through the medium of an insulator bushing I8. Mounted in the plug I3 is a post l9, the same being secured to the outer end of the plug and insulated therefrom by an insulator bushing 20. This post i 9 supports within the body I0 the core or holder 2| for a coiled resistance wire 22 constituting an electric heating unit, the wire being connected at one end directly with the post I9 and its other end with a connector 23 with the stem l6. Thus when the device is engaged in the fuse socket a circuit will be completed through the resistance coil 22 and body II! when the contact button I! is engaged with the lid or cover ll of said body, or, in other words, when the device has its parts in the position as shown by full lines in Figure l of the drawing. Should an overload in the circuit occur, the diaphragm l5 will be flexed or convexed and thus shift the button I! out of contact with the cover H of the body I0 so that the circuit will be broken.

The diaphragm I5 is flexed under the action of an expansible fluid or medium as contained within the body In, said fluid being in the form of a gas partially filling the said body, as for example, nitrogen or ozone or the like by the electric heating unit 22 for the expansion thereof. When this medium cools, the device operates to close the circuit, especially on relieving the overload in the circuit.

In Figure 2 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification of the invention, wherein the stem 24, alike to the stem [5, has surrounding it the coiled compression spring 25, the same being seated at one end against the insulator bushing 50 25 at the point of connection of the stem with the flexible diaphragm Z1 and the other end against an insulator sleeve 28 fitted in the clearance for thestem 24 as provided in the cover of the device and this spring augments the diaphragm 21 to 55 cause the same to flex into concavo-convex formation, this being the normal condition thereof with the electric circuit closed.

In Figure 3 of the drawing there is shown a still further modification of the invention, wherein the resistance wire 29 is suspended within the device and connected directly to the post 30 and the stem 3|. This stem 3| carries the circuit closing button 32 and an insulated hand knob 33 having the button counterseated therein. Thus the stem 3| can be manually manipulated for the opening and closing of the circuit. However, normally the circuit is closed and when the same is automatically opened the stem can be manually operated for resetting the device to circuit closing position.

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a screw plug body having a cover, a flexible diaphragm arranged within the body, an expansible medium held Within the body for flexing the diaphragm, an electric heating unit within the body, a switch operated by the diaphragm and arranged in an electric circuit having included therein the heating unit, said switch including a stem connected with the diaphragm,

a head exteriorly of the body, and an insulating hand knob on said head.

2. A device of the character described comprising a screw plug body having a cover, a'fiexible diaphragm arranged within the body, an expansible medium held within the body for flexing the diaphragm, an electric heating unit within the body, a switch operated by the diaphragm and arranged in an electric circuit having included therein the heating unit, said switch including a stem connected with the diaphragm, a head exteriorly of the body, a hand knob on said head, and spring means augmenting the flexible diaphragm for flexing the same in one direction.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a hollow body having a screw plug end and a cover, a flexible diaphragm arranged within the body, an expansible medium held within the body for flexing the. diaphragm, an electric heating unit within the body, and a switch operated by the diaphragm and arranged in an e1ectric circuit having included therein the heating unit, and accessible exteriorly of said body at the cover side thereof.

ROBERTO J. PERALTA. 

